False pocket tube access

This example uses the same tunic as the black cowl shown in the “easy peasy” alteration, but this attempt was more involved.

Here it is before I altered it. (Sorry about the blurry photo, it was too late to take another “before” photo when I discovered afterwards it wasn’t in focus.)

I marked where my opening should be, and ironed on woven fusible interfacing, (slightly larger than the opening would be) to the underside of the fabric. As my plan was to have the top of opening drop down when I needed to get at my tube I marked placement on the interfacing.

Putting the cutting mat between the layers of my tunic, so that I’d cut through only the front side, I cut the arc.

I created a facing for the top of opening with some fabric that was kind of close to the same color as the tunic.

This is the same way you’d create a facing for a neckline or sleeveless top.

For the outside edge of the flap I used part of the ribbed cuff cut from both wrists of the sleeves. Somewhere along the way, I lost the photo example of this. The sleeves were long enough to where I could sacrifice some of the length. I trimmed and didn’t even stitch the sleeve afterward, so far no ravels, and its been washed several times. An “after” photo of my sleeve is below.

Unfortunately, the fabric from cuff had to be pieced to make it long enough, but as a finished piece, the joined areas are not noticeable I used KAM snaps to fasten the flap, but velcro would have worked as well. The photo above shows a closeup before snaps were installed. The green dot is washable marker.

The results are acceptable. Much better than not being able to eat while wearing the tunic!. I’m not thrilled about some aspects of how the material used as trim around edge looks. But, the tunic is old, the knit shows a good bit of wear and tear, so it is not an outfit I would wear for any special occasion anyway.

My hope is that this will inspire others to come up with creative methods to still wear existing clothes from their pre-tube wardrobe.